Laura Bell McDaniel

Laura Bell McDaniel (November 27, 1861 – January 1918) was an American madam and brothel owner in Colorado City, now called Old Colorado City, and Cripple Creek during the late 19th century and early 20th century. She was also known the "Courtesan of Colorado City" and "Queen of the Colorado City Tenderloin". She had entered the profession after being left with an infant daughter. McDaniel maintained a close relationship with her mother and family over her career and she sent her daughter to boarding school. Her clients were among the wealthy citizens of the Colorado Springs area and she was said to have the "most spectacular [house] in town", managed by a number of servants. Although she was encouraged to leave town by citizens and law enforcement, she continued to operate her business until her death.

Early years Laura Bell Horton was born on November 27, 1861, near Buffalo Lick, Missouri, to farmers, James and Anna Horton. and Enss stated she was born in 1861. Her father died in 1870 and her mother continued to farm the land and raise Laura and her brother James. Anna then married John Warmoth (died by 1884), and in 1878 they had a daughter named Birdie.

When she began having marital problems, her mother moved to Colorado and opened a boarding house She charged $250 for one of her girls, at a time when women made $2 working a day as a laundress.

People that had a significant role in her life included Charles L. Tutt Sr., a real estate and mining magnate; Minnie Smith, a female gambler; and John O'Bryne, nicknamed "Prairie Dog", who was a hack driver and brakeman for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Berg died in 1916. She died a few days later at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. Her niece, Laura Pearson, was killed and Dusty McCarthy was injured in the crash that occurred near Castle Rock. McDaniel and Pearson were buried next to each other at the Fairview Cemetery in Colorado Springs. Her daughter inherited McDaniel's estate of about $15,000 . It was later determined that there was a car with the deputy district attorney and two other men following close behind McDaniel's car on the day of the crash, but since McCarthy was blind there was not enough evidence for prosecution.